Sword guard (Tsuba) With Cherry Blossom Motif (桜図与四郎象嵌鐔)

17th century

Not on view

This Yoshirō style iron tsuba shows on both sides a brass inlay (shinchū-zōgan) of cherry blossoms embedded into arabesques. The arrangement of the design suggests that the two openings for scabbard accessories (hitsu-ana) are orignal and were not added later as it is so often the case. In addition, there is almost no loss of inlay and so this tsuba is in excellent condition.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Sword guard (Tsuba) With Cherry Blossom Motif (桜図与四郎象嵌鐔)
Date: 17th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, brass
Dimensions: H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); W. 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 5.6 oz. (158.8 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
Object Number: 36.120.171
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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